Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

This Cilantro Lime Chicken is our go to chicken recipe for grilling! The flavors in the marinade are light and tangy, and the chicken comes out tender, juicy, and delicious every time!

this Recipe

BEST Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade

This is the marinade recipe we have been making maybe longer than any other! We love this marinade and seem to always come back to it when we want to grill chicken for our family, and especially when we have company!

The flavors in this Cilantro Lime Marinade just can’t be beat! It is a little tangy, a little sweet, a little savory all in the perfect combination.

With the combination of the lime juice, which tenderizes the meat, the cilantro, which adds depth of flavor and the honey that cuts the acidity and gives the chicken the perfect balance, this marinade produces tender juicy and perfectly flavored chicken every time!

Tips for Grilling

This recipe is super simple, with only 7 basic ingredients. I am going to walk through some of my tips for getting the absolute best results with this recipe here, but make sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post to get the full recipe card.

1. To make marinade, whisk together the lime juice, cilantro, garlic, vegetable oil, honey and salt until combined and all honey is dissolved.
   • The BIGGEST tip here is use fresh lime juice! It makes a huge impact on the flavor of this dish.
   • When you chop the cilantro, you can use both the leaves and the stems. Both carry the herbs flavor and will help to season the meat.
   • Make sure that the honey is dissolved in this step. It makes it even easier to combine if you heat the honey before (you can do this in the microwave, just make sure there is no foil on the label) since it liquifies quickly.
2. Lightly score chicken several times 1/4 inch deep against the grain of the chicken. Place the chicken in a dish or zip top bag and pour the marinade over the chicken to cover completely. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
   • Look for chicken breasts that are uniform in thickness and about 1/2-3/4″ thick. If your chicken breast is thick or uneven, you can butterfly the breast, or pound it until it is an even thickness. This will help the chicken to cook more quickly and evenly and prevent the outside from getting tough, while the inside isn’t yet done.
   • You can either lightly score the outside of the chicken, or poke the chicken all over with a fork. This is especially important when you are not marinating the chicken for long. If you will be marinating it for a longer period, like overnight, you can skip the scoring if you want.
   • I think the optimal time for marinating chicken is 2-4 hours. You can definitely get some flavor in as little as 30 minutes if you are in a time crunch, but if you let it sit a bit longer, the lime helps to tenderize the chicken and the flavor really fills out.
   • Make sure to marinate in a bag or container that is close to the size of the meat. This will help it stay submerged in the marinade. You can turn the bag, or meat in the container during marinating if desired.
3. Heat the grill to medium heat and brush with oil to prevent sticking. Place chicken on the grill and close the lid. Cook for 4-6 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Cook to an internal temperature of 165˚F.
   • You want your grill to be hot enough to cook the chicken evenly and quickly, without burning the outside.
   • Keep an eye on the chicken and if any pieces start to get more done than desired, move them to a cooler spot to finish cooking.
4. Once done, remove chicken from grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Then serve warm.
   • Allowing the chicken to rest will help to seal the juices in and keep the meat really tender and juicy! Once it sits, you can serve the chicken breasts whole, or slice them up!

How to Serve Cilantro Lime Chicken

This Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken is really a super star recipe! It can stand on it’s own, or goes well in other dishes too! Here are some of our favorite serving suggestions for this dish:

Side dishes:

• Black Beans – this doctored up version is amazing! Or try my crock pot black beans for a hands-off recipe.
• Rice- regular or cilantro lime rice
• Mango salsa – put a big scoop right on top! This is my favorite way to eat it!
• Mexican Corn Salad
• Pico de Gallo
• Chips and Salsa – this salsa is SO GOOD and SO EASY!
• Cornbread– Easy and filling!
• Guacamole
• Avocado and Corn Salad

Make sure to let us know how you served your Cilantro Lime Chicken in the comments below!

What to do with Leftovers

If you have leftover Cilantro Lime Chicken, it saves wonderfully and can be used to make a variety of other meals for new and exciting dinners, or meal prep options.

To save leftovers, place in an airtight container in the:

• Refrigerator for 3-4 days
• Freezer for up to a month

Main dish ideas:

The leftovers of the Cilantro Lime Chicken can be used to make some completely new and delicious meals! Here are a few of our favorites!

• Tacos- Place in a warmed corn tortilla and top with shredded cabbage and mango salsa
• Salad- Top greens with cilantro lime chicken, corn
• Power bowl- On a bed of quinoa, top with sliced cilantro lime chicken, black beans, pico de gallo, corn, cubed avocado, and drizzle with olive oil, fresh lime juice, a sprinkle of coarse salt and garlic powder.
• Quesadillas- Add chicken with some monterey jack cheese in a tortilla. Grill with some butter on medium heat until the tortilla is golden brown. Then fold it over and top with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.

Meal Prep Ideas

To meal prep, I like to slice the Cilantro Lime Chicken then package it with 1-2 side dishes for a filling ready-to-go meal. These are some of my favorite sides to pair it with:

• Rice
• Black beans or my crock pot black beans
• Side salad
• Grilled peppers and onions
• Cornbread

More Easy Grilling Recipes

• Southwest Grilled Chicken
• Balsamic Chicken Marinade
• Quick & Easy Steak Marinade – Always tender and juicy!
• Apple Cider Vinegar Marinade